It started badly. We lost the toss. Our 11th man was 6 years old, until the signed-up adult appeared. The clientele from the Park St Social Club looked as though they'd already drunk the post-match pints. The match manager's children were affecting preparations by sharing their chips. We had 3 season debuts and one full debut all talking of "rust". And SFDWPs had never won away at Park St. But, at least the sun was shining...

Their Skipper looked at his 8 players and decided to bowl, and in walked Harsha and Graham. Harsha played with the skill of a man born to lift his teammates' spirits, cutting it for fun on his way to 29 n.o. - with 4s heading under a double decker bus, and through the hands of a lumbering fielder. "Graham is looking imperious", said unnamed SFDWP. The next ball stayed low and away the timbers went. The Commentator's curse. Mark headed out, but ran for a run that was never there and returned to the bench chuntering and muttering. Full Debutant Paul fancied a swipe, and bashed 14 before being caught. Simon of Busted unleashed the bat with four 4s and a 6 on his way to a top-scoring 30 n.o. The run rate was in good form. 82 for 3 after 10 overs. Surely this pace couldn't continue?

Michael waded in with "Death / Glory" tattooed on his knuckles. A lusty 4! Glory! A dollied catch. Death. Replaced by Tim W, the runs flowed on as TW matched the four 4s and a 6 of his erstwhile batting partner SK to a 29 n.o. (and in less time). Tim P strode out to the crease with intent overreaching skill, and the first ball streaked away for 4 as he anchored his end until the close with 11 n.o. Finally WG replaced the retired Busted, and flashed the bat to amass 3, before juggling the final delivery off both his heels to entertain the gallery (but lose his wicket).

Extras top scored with 31. But incredibly 85 runs were scored in the final 10 overs, versus those 82 from the initial 10. A hulking 167 for 5.

There are 10 ways to get out in cricket. SFDWPs decided to simplify the rules, and just use 1. Michael started it with a ridiculous over in which he bowled two men out (either side of being lofted for 6). Park St tried to recover momentum, but Mark thundered in with a fine delivery that rearranged the batsman's furniture. The run rate required was starting to look problematic for our opposition. Graham was enjoying his captaincy, with regular calls of "Come In", "Further Out", and - surely not - "On the One"; all of which kept a choke hold on the batsmen. New boy Paul bowled at such pace that our man on his wicket-keeping debut asked for help, and ended up with 2 longstops. Fast Paul's over went for 1. Graham asked Paul to tone it down. Slower Paul's over went for 9. We like Fast Paul. Our bowling and fielding kept doing a top job, keeping the run rate down and our morale high. Busted clean bowled a big-hitting batsman intent on damage. Harsha then doing the same for his compatriot. Some big hits towards the end were too little too late, and as the sunset arrived Park St Dads' innings ended at 140/5. Unequivocal victory was ours. Well played one and all.

No time to critique the hefty 37 extras that we coughed up. No room here to comment on the BMW that just missed a trip to the body shop as a boundary flashed past it (and the words exchanged between husband and wife as to why it had been parked there). Or the Audi Q7 that did need checking after stopping a boundary ball. No need to mention the need for better elastic in the wicketkeeper's trousers. Or a new compass in Graham's bowling arm exemplified by one that headed out to midwicket, never crossing the line of the stumps. Churlish to mention the catches dropped by Paul, Harsh, and Simon off his own bowling. All that matters is the taste of Victory (which turns out to be a pint and a couple of slices of Dominos pizza). Let's do it all again soon.